Veteran Astronaut Pam Melroy Leaves NASA

July 24, 2009

John Yembrick
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1100


Nicole Cloutier-Lemasters
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-483-5111


RELEASE: 09-176

VETERAN ASTRONAUT PAM MELROY LEAVES NASA

HOUSTON -- NASA astronaut Pam Melroy is leaving the agency to take a
job in the private sector. Melroy, a retired Air Force colonel, is a
veteran of three space shuttle flights and the second woman to
command one.

"Pam has performed superbly as an astronaut," said Steve Lindsey,
chief of the Astronaut Office at NASA's Johnson Space Center in
Houston. "She has flown three highly successful space shuttle
missions and contributed in several other technical areas during her
14 years of service with the Astronaut Office. Her leadership as the
commander of the STS-120 space shuttle mission paved the way to
six-person crew operations on the International Space Station."

"As a classmate and a friend, I feel privileged to have served beside
her. We wish Pam the best of luck in her new career -- she will be
missed," Lindsey added.

Melroy flew on shuttle missions STS-92 in 2000, STS-112 in 2002 and
STS-120 in 2007. She served as pilot on her first two flights and
commanded the third. She has logged more than 924 hours in space,
contributing to the construction of the space station on every
mission. She was selected as an astronaut in December 1994.

Melroy made history with Expedition 16 Commander Peggy Whitson in
October 2007 when the hatches between the space shuttle and space
station were opened. They became the first female spacecraft
commanders to lead space shuttle and space station missions
concurrently.

For Melroy's complete biography, visit:

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/melroy.html

For information about NASA and agency programs, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov

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